Permits & approvals
The Singapore regulatory bodies a fit-out answers to — HDB, BCA, URA and MOM — and what each governs.
Singapore construction is tightly regulated, and a fit-out answers to several authorities. Permits are typically triggered at award and must be in hand before the works they govern begin. A PM doesn't have to be a permit expert, but you must know who governs what.
The four you'll meet most
| Body | Stands for | Governs |
|---|---|---|
| HDB | Housing & Development Board | Residential works in HDB flats |
| BCA | Building & Construction Authority | Structural works |
| URA | Urban Redevelopment Authority | Planning permission and use |
| MOM | Ministry of Manpower | Work-permit and manpower compliance |
What each means on site
- HDB permit — required for renovation in HDB residential units. Hacking, wet-area changes and the like fall under HDB rules.
- BCA permit — anything structural. If the works touch a load-bearing element, BCA approval governs it. This ties directly to demolition scope.
- URA approval — planning permission, change of use, and anything affecting how a space may be used.
- MOM notification — compliance for the workers on site, including work-permit status.
The PM discipline
- Trigger them early. Permits have lead time. A permit not applied for at award becomes a programme delay later.
- Don't start governed works without the permit. Beginning structural or hacking work ahead of approval is a serious compliance failure, not a shortcut.
- Keep the numbers on the project. Permit references and statuses live on the project record — keep them current.
warning
When in doubt about whether works need an approval, stop and ask a senior PM before starting. Unwinding unpermitted work is far costlier than the wait.